VW Model Types

From the very earliest days, Volkswagen has identified its various different models and designs by assigning them a series of Type designations. Originally they were only used within the VW organisation, but over the years they have become widely known and used by VW enthusiasts.

The Type designations really apply to air-cooled Volkswagens only. While the factory did apply Type designations to later water-cooled models, they are little known outside the VW organisation. Since 1980 VW has not referred to VW ‘Types’ at all, and model codes now form part of the 17-digit VIN. Modern VWs tend to be organised by ‘platform’ instead.

For this section, we will only consider Volkswagens made before 1980. For newer VWs, refer to the VIN listing page.

1938-1945

VW’s model Type designation began when Dr Ferdinand Porsche was designing the prototypes that led to the VW Beetle. Porsche’s engineering company assigned Type Numbers to individual design projects he was working on. The Volkswagenwerk continued using the Porsche Type designations through World War 2. These early model Types have no connection with modern VWs, but are listed here for historical interest. Some of the most commonly encountered early Porsche/VW model Types are as follows:

Type 12

Porsche-designed VW-like prototype for Zundapp (1932

Type 34

Porsche-designed VW-like prototype for NSU (1934)

Type 60

VW30 & VW38 prototypes that became the KdF-Wagen (1935)

Type 62

Military conversion of the Type 60 – the first Kübelwagen (1939)

Type 64

Sportwagen Berlin-Rome race car (1939)

Type 82

Kübelwagen

Type 82E

Kommandeurwagen 2WD

Type 87

Kommandeurwagen 4WD

Type 88

Flat-bed pickup truck version of KdF-Wagen

Type 92

Kommandeurwagen 2WD with sunshine roof

Type 138

Schwimmwagen with KdF-Wagen platform chassis

Type 166

Schwimmwagen with 2000mm wheelbase

Type 205

Maus 185-tonne tank

1945-1949

At the end of the war, one of the first things the British did was to introduce a new system of model numbers. This was to replace the Porsche design numbers and refine those made by the Volkswagenwerk during the war. The British allocated the following Type numbers (but not all of them were made):

Type 11

Two-door saloon

Type 13

Saloon with sliding roof

Type 15

Drophead coupe

Type 21

Kübelwagen

Type 25

Kübelwagen fire tender with high-pressure pump

Type 27

Kübelwagen-based van with canopy

Type 28

Kübelwagen-based closed delivery van

Type 51

Saloon on Kübelwagen chassis

Type 53

Saloon with sliding roof on Kübelwagen chassis

Type 55

Drophead coupe on Kübelwagen chassis

Type 81

Saloon-based delivery van with canopy

Type 83

Saloon-based closed delivery van

Type 91

Trailer, open

Type 93

Trailer, closed

Type 100

Short-wheelbase saloon-based road tractor

1949-1979

The British handed the VW factory back to the Germans in September 1949, the year the three former Allied zones were united to form the German Federal Republic. Former Opel director Heinz Nordhoff was appointed General Manager of the Volkswagenwerk.

Under German control, VW released two new Cabriolet models in 1949 alongside refinements and expansion of the sedan line-up. VW took the opportunity to reorganise the British model Type numbering system, and a new system was put in place. This saw the VW range divided into 4 basic types (eventually), with each type further divided into models described with three-digit numbers. This basic system lasted until the end of German air-cooled models and the introduction of the modern VIN system.

Within these four Volkswagen Types, the individual models were identified by a three-digit code – the first digit always being the Type number above. VW’s first model lists for the Types 1 and 2 were drawn up in 1949 and 1950. They were reorganised and renumbered in 1966 for the 1967 model year, so there are two separate lists for each Type. After 1966, the first two digits of the Type number were used on the chassis number. Models were separated depending on whether they were Left or Right-Hand Drive.

Type 1 (1949-1966)

111

Standard Beetle Sedan (LHD)

112

Standard Beetle Sedan (RHD)

113

Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sedan (LHD)

114

Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sedan (RHD)

115

Standard Beetle Sunroof Sedan (LHD)

116

Standard Beetle Sunroof Sedan (RHD)

117

Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sunroof Sedan (LHD)

118

Export (Deluxe) Beetle Sunroof Sedan (RHD)

141

Hebmüller Cabriolet

141

Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (LHD)

142

Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (RHD)

143

Karmann Ghia Coupe (LHD)

144

Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)

147

Fridolin (Klein Lieferwagen) – LHD only

151

Beetle Cabriolet (LHD)

152

Beetle Cabriolet (RHD)

Type 1 (1966-1979)

111

Torsion bar, swing-axle Beetle (LHD)

112

Torsion bar, swing-axle Beetle (RHD)

113

Torsion bar, CV-joint Beetle (LHD)

114

Torsion bar, CV-joint Beetle (RHD)

131

McPherson strut Superbug (LHD)

132

McPherson strut Superbug (RHD)

133

McPherson strut Superbug (LHD – USA, Canada)

141

Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (LHD)

142

Karmann Ghia Cabriolet (RHD)

143

Karmann Ghia Coupe (LHD)

144

Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)

147

Fridolin (Klein Lieferwagen) – LHD only

151

Beetle Cabriolet (LHD)

152

Beetle Cabriolet (RHD)

153

Beetle Cabriolet (LHD – USA, Canada)

181

Kurierwagen, Thing, Safari (LHD)

182

Kurierwagen, Safari, Trekker (RHD)

192

Beetle (Australian manufacture)

197

Country Buggy (Australia Only)

Type 2 (1949-1967)

211

Panel van, right-side load doors (LHD)

213

Panel van, left-side load doors (LHD)

214

Panel van, left-side load doors (RHD)

215

Panel van, load doors both sides (LHD)

216

Panel van, load doors both sides (RHD)

221

Microbus, right-side doors, 9-seat (LHD)

223

Microbus, left-side doors, 9-seat (LHD)

224

Microbus, left-side doors, 9-seat (RHD)

225

Microbus Sunroof, right-side doors, 9-seat (LHD)

226

Microbus Sunroof, left-side doors, 9-seat (RHD)

231

Kombi, right-side load doors (LHD)

233

Kombi, left-side load doors (LHD)

234

Kombi, left-side load doors (RHD)

235

Kombi Sunroof, right-side doors (LHD)

237

Kombi Sunroof, left-side doors (LHD)

238

Kombi Sunroof, left-side doors (RHD)

241

Microbus (Samba), 8-seat (LHD)

242

Microbus (Samba, Alpine), 8-seat (RHD)

251

Microbus Walk-Thru (Samba), 7-seat (LHD)

261

Single-cab Pickup, right-hand locker (LHD)

263

Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (LHD)

264

Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (RHD)

265

Double-cab Pickup, right rear door (LHD)

267

Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (LHD)

268

Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (RHD)

271

Ambulance, right-side load doors (LHD)

273

Ambulance, left-side load doors (LHD)

274

Ambulance, left-side load doors (RHD)

281

Microbus Walk-Thru, 7-seat (LHD)

285

Microbus Sunroof Walk-Thru, 7-seat (LHD)

Type 2 (1968-1979)

211

Panel van, right-side sliding door (LHD)

213

Panel van, left-side sliding door (LHD)

214

Panel van, left-side sliding door (RHD)

215

Panel van, sliding door both sides (LHD)

216

Panel van, sliding door both sides (RHD)

221

Microbus (7, 8 or 9 seats), right sliding door (LHD)

223

Microbus (7, 8 or 9 seats), left sliding door (LHD)

224

Microbus (7, 8 or 9 seats), left sliding door (RHD)

231

Kombi, right-side sliding door (LHD)

233

Kombi, right-side sliding door (LHD)

234

Kombi, left-side sliding door (RHD)

235

Kombi Sunroof, right-side sliding door (LHD)

237

Kombi Sunroof, left-side sliding door (LHD)

238

Kombi Sunroof, left-side sliding door (RHD)

241

Microbus Sunroof (8 or 9 seats) (LHD)

242

Microbus Sunroof (8 or 9 seats) (RHD)

261

Single-cab Pickup, right-hand locker (LHD)

263

Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (LHD)

264

Single-cab Pickup, left-hand locker (RHD)

265

Double-cab Pickup, right rear door (LHD)

267

Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (LHD)

268

Double-cab Pickup, left rear door (RHD)

271

Ambulance, right-side sliding door (LHD)

274

Ambulance, left-side sliding door (RHD)

281

Microbus Walk Thru (7 seats) (LHD)

285

Microbus Sunroof Walk Thru (7 seats) (LHD)

Type 3 (1962-1973)

311

Fastback (LHD)

312

Fastback (RHD)

313

Fastback Sunroof (LHD)

314

Fastback Sunroof (RHD)

315

Notchback (LHD)

316

Notchback (RHD)

317

Notchback Sunroof (LHD)

318

Notchback Sunroof (RHD)

343

Karmann Ghia Coupe (LHD)

344

Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)

345

Karmann Ghia Coupe Sunroof (LHD)

346

Karmann Ghia Coupe (RHD)

361

Squareback (Variant) (LHD)

362

Squareback (Variant) (RHD)

363

Squareback (Variant) Sunroof (LHD)

364

Squareback (Variant) Sunroof (RHD)

365

Squareback (Variant) A Wagon and Panel Van (LHD)

366

Squareback (Variant) A Wagon and Panel Van (RHD)

367

Squareback (Variant) A Sunroof (LHD)

368

Squareback (Variant) A Sunroof (RHD)

Type 4 (1968-1975)

411

2-door L Sedan (LHD)

412

2-door L Sedan (RHD)

415

2-door Sedan (LHD)

416

2-door Sedan (RHD)

421

4-door L Sedan (LHD)

422

4-door L Sedan (RHD)

425

4-door Sedan (LHD)

426

4-door Sedan (RHD)

461

Variant L station wagon (LHD)

462

Variant L station wagon (RHD)

465

Variant station wagon (LHD)

466

Variant station wagon (RHD)

471

VW-Porsche 914 (LHD only)

Other VW Types

Volkswagen water-cooled models of the early 1970s were also given similar-style Type numbers, and these are listed below. However, unlike the air-cooled models, these are not well known and hardly ever used, even by VW sales staff, mechanics and enthusiasts. VW Type numbers are generally only used when referring to air-cooled models.

While Type designations do show up in modern, post-1980 VIN codes, their importance has greatly diminished except for their use in spare parts codes. They often do not have any historical connection with previous Types. The T3 Transporter has a VIN type descriptor of ‘24’ (pickups) or ‘25’ (vans and buses) for example, and can still be said to be a Type 2. The T4 Transporter on the other hand, has a VIN descriptor of ‘70’ and is thus not a ‘Type 2’ at all. For Australia the New Beetle is a ‘9C’ and has no connection with the ‘Type 1’ (so it really isn’t a Beetle). The first Polo was Type 86, but newer ones are 9N.

So while VW has an internal system for type designations, these are no longer used outside of Volkswagen. We don’t refer to newer Golfs as Type 1G or Type 1H; they are Golf 2 or Golf 3.

For the record, here are some other VW model types used prior to the introduction of the VIN in 1980.